BLUES

BLACK NOTLEY BLUES

Chris Dell engagingly recounts many humorous moments in this, his autobiography spanning a year as "a mischievous teenager" and patient in a tuberculosis hospital and convalescent home.

He assiduously made daily diary entries of his time while under medical treatment among many other individuals with TB, all cooped up and restricted in a caring but disciplined environment.

Black Notley Blues has been described by a medical historian at University College London as:

"A surprisingly entertaining read with all the ingredients of a 'Carry On' comedy involving nurse chasing, illicit pub crawls and regular carpeting by the hospital authorities. Yet accompanying the fun and games it is an important medical, social and personal record of the 1950s sanatorium experience."

Touching and often laughter-filled memories abound in this book, and he particularly remembers with affection many of the friendly helpful nursing staff. He and his gathering of 'mates' and 'characters' were under the ever-watchful eyes of Ward Sister, Matron and Medical Superintendent whose patience were often tested to the limit by their activities.

About the author

After recovering from his treatment at Black Notley Hospital in Essex followed by a period of convalescence at the Caxton Memorial Home in Kent, Chris Dell eventually studied and progressed into a successful career in the computer industry. However he maintained his interest in music by learning to play the classical guitar and teaching the instrument after-hours in schools for over ten years. In his spare time he also organised concerts for local music societies.

In the Spring of 2013 he, by serendipity, happened to watch a television programme about a tuberculosis sanatorium at Craig-y-nos Castle in Wales where, until the discovery of the drug streptomycin, many children were confined for long-term treatment, often for several years. Chris was blissfully unaware just how lethal the disease had been before the drug was discovered and was very fortunate that it was available when he was admitted in 1958.

Inspired by reading the featured book The Children of Craig-y-nos, Chris decided to release for publication his own book Black Notley Blues that had remained in the private domain of close friends and family for several years. His informative and amusing book is well illustrated with over 100 photographs, mostly taken by the author at the time - here are three of them.

Chris Dell, a teenage patient in
Black Notley Hospital 1958/59.

Fresh air was part of the treatment,
in most weather conditions.

But we could sometimes sneak out
of the grounds to the local pub.

Primary source material

Black Notley Blues was drawn from primary source material from the period including daily diary entries, photographs, letters and memories. Below is an illustration that appears in the book showing some of them.

Ordering details

Black Notley Blues contains 150 pages and is offered as paperback or hardback editions. It is available from Amazon or can be ordered from Waterstones, local bookshops or from the Braintree Museum (see the link below).

Useful links

The Trust holds a comprehensive collection of material relating to the Black Notley Hospital, consisting primarily of photographs, whilst the Museum shop is stocked with local history publications, historical gifts, postcards and photographic prints.

Log on to Facebook and search for the Group 'Friends of Black Notley Hospital'.

GoodReads.com

whatwasthere.com

Chris dell on twitter

Chris dell on LINKEDIN

TBAlert

TB Alert is a UK based charity which works to tackle TB in the UK and the developing world.

What readers say about
Black Notley Blues

A Carry On Comedy on a serious subject

While in hospital Chris kept perceptive and detailed diary notes on all that went on around him. His first person testimony is entertaining with a Boy's Own camaraderie, nurse chasing, illicit pub crawls, and regular carpeting over discipline by the matron and medical superintendent. This is a most enjoyable read, thoroughly recommended.

Brian Jarvis, retired journalist, Reading.

A true celebration of the human spirit!

Although the subject matter of Black Notley Blues might lead one to expect a somewhat maudlin account of a lengthy hospital stay, nothing could be further from the truth in this entertaining memoir. Chris Dell's recollections of Black Notley Hospital is both humorous and inspirational. I found myself sometimes amazed, frequently amused, as he recounts the creative ways he found to distract himself (and his fellow patients) during his confinement.

Bonnie Beckett, Sacramento, USA.

A poignant account from a 1950s TB hospital patient

The patient treatments are all dealt with in a matter of fact manner and overlaid with stories of relationships with other patients and medical staff and all the activities these young minds dreamed up to keep themselves occupied. The account of daily life is light-hearted and at times laugh out loud funny. I thoroughly recommend this book for anyone interested in social history or life in the 1950s.

Alison Gray, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Where there’s a will there's a way

Sentenced to a year's confinement in a hospital bed would be a depressing prospect for any red‑blooded male in his late teens, but Chris Dell makes no maudlin appeal to our sympathies in his diaries but provides an unusual contemporary patient's view of life in a TB sanatorium. As the partner to his first illicit trip to the pub, I was not aware at the time of the hilarious consequences. An enjoyable read and nostalgia trip for anyone who was a youth in the late 1950s.

John McEwan, Framlingham.

Inspirational

Most of us could certainly learn a thing or two from Chris Dell about courage and positivity and making the best of a very difficult situation. How such a young man had the strength of character to remain so consistently stoic and upbeat while being confined to a hospital bed for so long, is hard to imagine. He acquired many practical skills during his confinement, along with coordinating undercover trips to the pub; performing and recording plays and generally entertaining his fellow patients − not to mention the nurses!! Fabulous!